Sweeper



B. M. WILGUS Aug. 24, 1965 SWEEPER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 17, 1961 INVENTOR. 5195 7-0 M M1. 605

B. M. WILGUS Aug. 24, 1965 SWEEPER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 17, 1961 B. M. WILGUS Aug. 24, 1965 SWEEPER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 17, 1961 3" 1965 B. M. WILGUS 3,201,819

SWEEPER Filed Nov. 17, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. BHETO/Y /1 M46 05 United States Patent 3,231,819 SWEEPER Barton M. Wilgus, West Milton, Ohio, assiguor to Lambert, The, Dayton, @hio, a corporation of (Dido Fiied Nov. 17, rest, Ser. No. 153,0tl9 2t? Claims. (iii. 15- 349) The invention disclosed herein relates to sweeping devices and more particularly to a sweeping device designed primarily to sweep floors of relatively large area such, for example, as the floors of large industrial or factory buildings.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a floor sweeper of the character refered to which is relatively simple in construction, more efiicient in operation than sweepers of this type previously known and is designed to effect the sweeping operation with a minimum dispersal of dust into the air as the sweeper is used. More specifically, it may be said that this invention is primarily concerned with the provision in a sweeper of the type referred to, of improved means for limiting as far as possible the discharge of dust into the air during use of the sweeper without in any way reducing its effectiveness as a sweeper.

With this object in view, one feature of the invention resides in the provision of a debris receiving receptacle which is removable from the sweeper frame to dump the contents thereof, is normally latched in position on the frame when the device is in use, is provided with a seal effective when latched in operative position to prevent escape of dust from the receptacle and the provision of means for communicating suction or a partial vacuum to the space adjacent the seal to further prevent the escape of dust into the atmosphere during operation of the device.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of improved sealing means cooperating with the sweeper brush to minimize the escape of dust into the atmosphere when the brush is in operation, but which is so arranged that fine dirt or debris as well as relatively large pieces will be swept from the floor and into the debris receptacle without appreciable discharge of dust into the air.

Briefly, this sealing means comprises two rows of relatively narrow rollers supported on transverse rods extending across the sweeper in front of and in the rear of the sweeper brush and relatively close thereto. These rollers normally engage the surface to be swept and have central openings through which the supporting rods extend, said openings being larger than the rods, so that the rollers may move up and down with reference to the supporting rods while the rods remain stationary. Further, the supporting rods themselves form part of a supplemental frame mounted so as to be freely movable up and down on the sweeper assembly so that not only are the rollers individually movable, but the supporting rods and the groups of rollers as a whole may also move up and down.

The supplemental frame, above referred to, has end plates with vertical slots therein which embrace supporting pins to permit the vertical movement of the frame. These end plates are longitudinally disposed and as shown are positioned outside and adjacent the side walls of the sweeper brush housing. Normally, when the sweeper is in use, the lower edges of such end plates on gage the surface to be swept so that these end plates form a seal for the chamber in which the brush is positioned.

A further specific structural feature of the invention consists in the provision of an outer housing spaced from and partially surrounding the inner brush housing to provide a space in which, as illustrated, the forward set of iiilfii Patented Aug. 24-, B965 rollers are positioned and with which a conduit extending from the vacuum producing means above referred to communicates, for the purpose of carrying off any dust created by engagement of the rollers with the surface to be swept. A suitable dust bag is, of course, associated with the dischar e outlet of the vacuum producing means.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of openings in the end plates in which the ends of the front roller rod extend which are so arranged that the ends of the rod may move up and down relative to the plates.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the entire sweeper seen from the front.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the dust sealing device per se.

FIG. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a section on the line d-i of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the driving means for the brushes and blower.

PEG. 6 is a fragmentary section on the line 66 of FIG. 3.

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are detail sections on the lines '7--7 and 8-8 of PEG. 3, and 9-9 of FIG. 4, respectively.

The sweeper, as shown in the drawings, has a power driven suction device for the purpose previously referred to and two power driven brushes, but is adapted to be rolled over the surface to be cleaned manually. To this end the sweeperis provided in front with two wheels 2-, which are suitably journalled for rotation on a transverse shaft 4, and at the rear is provided with two pairs of small rollers 6. These rollers are carried by supports which are more fully described later, but are pivoted on,

a vertical pivot so as to facilitate turning the sweeper as it is rolled over the surface to be cleaned.

The shaft 4 is fixedly supported in what might be termed a frame member. The latter comprises two triangular end plates 8 which are positioned just inside the wheels 2. These end plates are connected by a transverse member .id which lies at an angle to the horizontal and has downwardly extending flanges 12 secured to the plates 3 by suitable bolts M, so that the plates 8 and member 1% form a solid and rigid support for the wheel shaft 4.

The plates lie just outside of and adjacent'to the side walls 16 of an outer housing which will be discussed more fully later and has an upper wall 13. This housing is open at the bottom and at the rear where it communicates with a debris receiving receptacle 2% which will be more fully described later.

The outer housing referred to partly surrounds an inner housing in which the rotating sweeper brush is received. This inner housing has side walls 24 and an upper wall 22 both of which are spaced from the adjacent and corresponding walls of the outer housing, while at the rear and the bottom the housing is open to permit debris to be swept into the housing at the bottom and out at the rear end into the receptacle 20. The construction of the brush forms no part of the present invention and need not be described in detail herein. Briefly, the brush shaft 26 extends transversely of the sweeper and has, as shown, four rows of bristles 28 spaced degrees apart and secured on the shaft in any suitable way. The brush shaft rotates freely in suitable bearings 36 sup ported in both the end plates 8 and side walls 16 of the outer housing, as shown best in FIG. 6 and, as indicated previously, the brush shaft is power operated.

The power means for operating the brush is supported on the top wall 18 of the outer housing and for this purpose a plate 32, having upturned edges 34 is secured by any suitable means to the wall 18, as by bolts 36, positioned adjacent its ends, one of these bolts being shown in FIG. 1. This plate adds rigidity to the housing wall to adequately support a small internal combustion engine 40 which operates the brush and certain other instrumentalities to be later described. The engine will not be described at all, since it is of a type in common use on power lawn mowers and the like.

The plate 32 is positioned at an angle to the horizontal and in order that the base of the engine be supported in a substantially horizontal plane, a separate supporting member 41 for the engine is secured to the plate 32. This engine supporting member has two side walls 42, the lower edges of which rest on the plate 32 and an upper wall 44 integral therewith on which the engine 40 is mounted in a manner later described. This supporting member 41 is secured in position in any desirable way but, as shown, the lower edges of the side walls 42 are welded to the plate 32, thus forming a stable and rigid support for the engine.

The means for transmitting power from the engine to the brush shaft 26 can be readily understood from the schematic showing in FIG. 5. The engine shaft is designated at 50 and suitably secured thereto at the left end, as seen from the front, is a pulley 52. A belt 54 extends from this pulley to a larger pulley 56 suitably keyed or otherwise secured to the left end of an intermediate jack shaft 58. This shaft is suitably journalled in a supporting member 60 which is positioned between the walls 42 and is pivotally mounted, for a purpose later set forth, on a cross pin 62 which is threaded in the side walls 42 of the engine supporting member and locked in set position by a suitable lock nut.

Also keyed to the jack shaft is a smaller pulley 64 and engaging this pulley is a driving belt 66 which also engages a pulley 68 suitably fixed on the brush shaft 26 adjacent the left end thereof. Obviously, rotation of shaft 50 will rotate the jack shaft and, through pulley 64, belt 66 and pulley 68, will also rotate the brush shaft 26, the pulleys being of such size as to give the desired speed of rotation.

It will be noted that the jack shaft 58 extends through a slot 70 in the left side wall 42 of the engine supporting member 41 so that said shaft can be raised or lowered for the purpose of adjusting the tightness of belt 66. To retain the jack shaft in any adjusted position the supporting member 60 has a forwardly extending arm 72 integral therewith in which a horizontal pin 74 is supported. This pin extends through a substantially ver' tical slot 76 in the left side wall 42 of the member 41. This pin has a lock nut 78 threaded thereon which may be loosened so that member 60 may be rocked on its pivotal support to raise and lower shaft 58, thus tightening the belt 66 to the degree desired, and when proper adjustment is effected, the lock nut is tightened to retain the parts in adjusted position.

In dependent means is provided to adjust belt 54 and to this end the engine is movably mounted on the support 41. Bolts 80 extend through slots 32 in the wall 44. These bolts may be loosened, permitting forward or backward movement of the engine to the desired position, and the bolts can then be tightened to retain the parts in such position.

A supplemental or auxiliary brush is provided for sweeping the surface close to a vertical wall, which surface could not be reached by the main brush. The construction of this brush forms no part of the present invention and need not be described in detail. Briefly, referring particularly to FIG. 4, a supporting arm 82 is pivotally supported on the wheel shaft 4 near the left end thereof, as seen from the front and extends to a position in front of the wheels, as clearly shown in FIG. 4. Suitably mounted for rotation on the front end of the arm 82 is a pulley 84 which has a depending flared flange 36 integral therewith and secured within this flange in any suitable way, is a brush 88 which, when assembled, is in the form of an annular truncated cone, as indicated in FIG. 4. The brush is secured to and rotates with the pulley 84. The latter is driven by a belt 9t) which engages a horizontal groove in pulley 34, but is twisted to engage a peripheral groove in the vertically disposed pulley 92 secured to the left end of brush shaft 26 outside the brush driving pulley 68. Thus the brush 88 is driven from the main brush shaft 26 and the pulleys 84 and 92 are of such size as to effect operation of brush 88 at the desired speed.

In order to automatically maintain the driving belt tight at all times, the belt passes between two spools 4 rotatably mounted on vertically disposed spindles 96 which are pulled toward each other by a relatively strong spring 98, as indicated in FIG. 5.

The spindles 96 which support the belt tightening spools 94 are secured to and extend downwardly from two short fiat bars 95 which are pivoted on a pin 97 extending downwardly from the arm 82 at a point to the rear of the belt tightening spools 94. The spring 98 connects the bars 95 together at a point in front of the spools 94 .and pulls the spools against the outer surface of the belt 90 to keep such belt tight. This mechanism constitutes no part of the invention and is largely conventional in character.

The position of brush 88 relative to the surface over which the sweeper is moved may be adjusted. To this end the arm 82 has a rearward extension 100 lying to the left of the shaft 4 in FIG. 4. Obviously, if this extension is moved downwardly, the brush 88 is lifted and vice versa. To effect these movements an adjusting screw M2 is provided, the lower end of which engages the upper surface of the extension 100 and the upper end of which has a knob 104 for manual operation of the screw. The screw 1G2 is threaded in the horizontally extending flange 106 of a small angular plate which has a vertical portion 108 secured to the plate 8 at the left of the sweeper by bolts 110. A thumb nut 112 is also threaded on the adjusting screw 102 to hold it in any desired position of adjustment.

Means are also provided to adjust the main brush relative to the surface to be cleaned, or in other words, to effect relative adjustment between the main brush and the periphery of the wheels 2. This mechanism includes a transverse tubular bar which, when the sweeper is assembled, extends out in front of the outer housing previously alluded to, as indicated in FIG. 6. This bar is flattened at both its ends which are bent so as to be disposed longitudinally and to extend downwardly and at an angle toward the outer sweeper housing, as indicated at 122. The ends are connected by bolts 124to the side walls 16 of said outer housing closely adjacent to the front ends thereof, while between such bolts and the transverse part of the bar short links 126 are connected thereto by bolts 128. The upper ends of links 128 are connected by bolts 13% to the plates 8 which support the wheel shaft 4. The fiat ends 122 of bar 120 and the links 128 form a sort of toggle connection, the ends of which are moved toward and away from each other to effect adjustment of the brush.

To effect this movement of the parts described, a rod 132 is provided, which is threaded in the top of a block 134, connected to the flattened end 122 of rod 120 at the left side of the sweeper. This block is connected to the hat end of rod 120 by a bolt 136, at a point between the bolts 124 and 128. The rod 132 extends through an opening 138 in a block 140 secured by a bolt 142 to the left end plate 3 and movable thereon. The upper part 144 of rod 132 is larger than opening 138 and a washer 146, surrounding the rod below the block between the latter and a cotter pin or other suitable retaining means, prevents axial movement of the rod in said block. At its upper end rod 132 has a knob 14% to enable the rod to be rotated manually. Since the rod can not move axially in the block 149, its rotation in one direction will move block 1 3 in which it is threaded, and the ends of the toggle toward each other and in the other direction will effect reverse movement of said ends thus, in effect, raising and lowering the brush.

In the drawings only one rod 13-2 and associated mechanism is shown, this being positioned at the left of the front end of the sweeper, but a similar rod and cooperating .parts can be provided at the right side of the sweeper, if desired, and sometimes is so provided, if the sweeper is relatively large.

It has been previously indicated that the inner brush housing is partly surrounded by the outer housing and that the upper and side walls of the two housings are somewhat spaced apart, as will be apparent upon examination of FIGS. 3 and 6. The upper walls are so shaped that at the lower edges thereof the housings are separated by some inches for a purpose later discussed, while in FIG. 6 the side walls are shown as separated by an appreciable space, designated A on the drawing. To form this space the side walls 24, which are somewhat shorter than the corresponding walls 16 of the outer housing are provided, adjacent the rear edges thereof, with transversely and outwardly extending flanges 150. At the outer edge of each flange 1541 there is'a longitudinally extending flange 152 integral therewith. The flanges 150 are of such size that flanges 152 contact walls 16 of the outer housing and flanges 152 are welded to the walls 1 6 to maintain the inner and outer housings in fixed relat-ion to each other and to provide a space A, at each side of the sweeper, between walls 16 and 24.

In each space A there is positioned one of the end plates 162 of what constitutes a sort of floating frame which includes the end plates and front and rear connecting rods 164i and 166 respectively, this frame being shown per se in FIG. 2. Each plate .162 is provided with a pair of vertically disposed slots 11% through which pins 17% extend. The forward pin 1711 on each side of the sweeper passes through holes, both in one of the plates 8 and one of the walls 16. The pin is secured in position therein by any suitable means, for example, lock nuts. Each rear pin 171) does not pass through a hole in a plate but through wall 16, as shown in FIG. 6, where it is secured in position by suitable lock nuts. The pins are all of such length as to terminate adjacent the outer surface of end walls 24 of the inner housing. The rear pins 1711 have an additional function which will be referred to later.

The slots 168 are substantially vertical, as shown in FlG. 2, but are large enough to fit loosely on pins 170 so that the plates are freely movable up and down vertically or may have a tilting up and down movement. In other words, the front end of each plate may move without corresponding movement of the rear endand vice versa. The normal position of the supporting pins 171 in slots 163 is such that during normal operation of the sweeper the lower edges of plates 162 slide along the surface to be cleaned so that the plates minimize the escape of dust from the ends of the brush housing into the air during use of the sweeper.

The upper edge of each plate 162 is cut away as indicated at 172 to form a semicircular not-ch. The brush shaft 26 is adjacent to these notches which are of such magnitude that the shaft does not interfere with upward movement of plates 162 as described.

Rods 164 and 166 each extend through central openings in a series of relatively narrow abutting rollers, those on rod 164 being designated 174 and those on 166 being numbered 176. The rollers 174 have central openings 178 while rollers 176 have central openings 184 The rollers 174 and openings 178 are larger than rollers 176 and openings 180. Obviously the rollers on each rod may move up and down independently of each other to an extent determined by the relative size of the openings and the supporting rods. This construction is provided so that if during use of the sweeper, one of the rollers strikes a relatively large piece of debris, the roller can move up and ride over the debris withoutlifting the other rollers from the surface to be cleaned. The larger rollers and larger openings are provided in front because, due to the sweeping action of the brush, the front rollers are likely to contact larger pieces than those at the rear.

It will be noted particularly that the rod res extends through holes in plates 162 of the same size as the rod so that rod 166, while it may be moved upwardly at either end if the associated plate 162 is moved upward, the rod has no movement independent of the plate. On the other hand, the front rod 164 extends through slots 182 provided in end plates 162 and the parts are of such dimensions that normally, when the lower edges of plates 162 and rollers 174 are in contact with the surface to be cleaned, the rod 164- is at the bottom of slots 182 and is substantially coaxial with the openings 178. The purpose of this construction is obvious. If one of the rollers engages an extra large piece of debris, such roller can rise enough to lift the supporting rod all the way to the top of slots 182 without lifting the plates 162 which seal the spaces at the sides of the brush housing between the lower edge of the housing and the surface to be cleaned.

The rods 164 and 166 may be held against axial movement with reference to the plates 162 by any suitable means. For example, washers 184 may be provided outside the plates with retaining clips 186 engaging grooves 188 in the rods adjacent such washers.

The above described mechanism constitutes a very effective means for eliminating as far as possible, the discharge of dust into the air during operation of the sweeper. Not only are the rollers individually movable independently of each other, but if large pieces are engaged by the front rollers, the roller supporting rod may be lifted without movement of the end plates and if a large enough piece strikes a roller, the rod may lift the plate 162 with it. Also, of course, if the lower edge of either plate 162 strikes a piece of debris as the plate slides along during operation of the sweeper, the plate may move up enough to ride over the piece of debris.

The rear ends of side Walls 16 of the outer housing are somewhat curved, as indicated at 1% in FIG. 3 and these, as well as the top wall 18, project slightly into the debris receptacle 2t when the latter is latched in operative position. A sealing strip 192 surrounds the outer housing and is adapted to be engaged by a flange 194 which is integral with and projects from the receptacle 24 adjacent the open end thereof. To retain the sealing strip in position to be engaged by this flange, the walls 16 and 18 have a projecting flange 1% and this is engaged by a groove on the sealing strip.

There is no bottom wall of the outer housing and to support the sealing strip at the bottom there is provided a transverse sheet metal member 2111) which extends entirely across the housing and its ends have vertically positioned flanges 2112 which are welded to the walls 16 to hold member 2% in fixed position. The member Ztltl is of somewhat peculiar shape, the rear part of it extending downwardly and rearwardly to a point slightly beyond the ends of walls 16 and this portion of such member enters the groove in sealing strip 192 and performs the same function as does the flange 1%.

The member 200 is bent over at the top, as indicated in FIG. 3 and has a downwardly depending front portion 2%, which is positioned somewhat above the rollers 176. Secured to this front portion 2114 of member 2% is a sheet of relatively heavy but flexible rubber material 2118, which, as shown, extends from a point a short distance above member 2011 downwardly and rearwardly behind rollers 176 and adjacent thereto, to a position adjacent to the surface to be cleaned. This rubber material may be secured to the member 200 by any suitable means, as for example by a plurality of bolts 206.

To support the receptacle 20 in operative position, as shown in FIG. 3, there are provided on each side of the sweeper, at the rear, two tubular rods 210 and 212, as shown in FIG. 4. These rods are flattened vertically at their front ends and are connected to walls 16 of the outer housing. The upper rod 210 is connected to the housing by a simple bolt 214 which extends through the housing wall, while the lower rod 212 has an opening through which the rear pin 170, previously described, extends. The rod is held in place by a retaining nut 216, threaded on the outer end of the pin.

The bars 210 and 212 are horizontally flattened at their rear ends as shown in FIG. 3, which shows the rear ends of these bars on the opposite sides of the sweeper. The construction of both pairs of bars is the same and a connecting bolt 218 extends through the flat ends of each pair of bars 210, 212 to connect them together. Each bolt also extends through one of the flat ends 220 of a horizontal tubular bar 222, as best shown in FIG. 8, the construction on opposite sides of the sweeper being the same. Each bolt 218 also extends through a roller supporting member 224, which is supported on the bolt in any suitable way so as to be freely rotatable thereon. The members 224 support the rollers 6 previously mentioned. Each member 224 carries two of these rollers which are supported on a horizontal spindle 226 carried by the member 224. Said rollers and spindle are supported in any desired way so that the rollers are freely rotatable over the surface to be cleaned.

The arrangement of rollers 6 and supporting means therefor, is in no way material to the present invention, may be of entirely conventional construction and need not be further described.

When in properly operative position, the receptacle 20 is supported on the crossbar 222 and is held with the flange 194 on such receptacle in close contact with the sealing strip 192. To accomplish this there is provided a latch means which includes a double bell crank latch lever in the form of a U-shapedbar having a horizontal part 230, and downwardly extending arms 232 integral therewith which are flattened at their lower ends. Welded at the lower ends of arms 232 are flat bars 234 which extend forwardly and each bar 234 has a V-shaped notch 236 at its forward end. Each notch has a semicircular surface 238 which is adapted to engage a latching pin 240 when the parts are in latching position, as shown in FIG. 4. A flat bar 242 connects the arms 232 with forward ends of bars 234 and is welded to each of such parts. The arms 232 and parts welded thereto are pivoted on bolts 243 extending through the side walls of the receptacle 20 and the bar 230 is rocked backward on the pivot to release the latch.

The latch pins 240 are integral with and extend outwardly from flat bars 244 on opposite sides of the sweeper. Each bar, at its lower end, is secured by suitable means adjacent the end of a rod 246 which extends transversely of the sweeper through the walls 16 of the outer housing and through the flanges 152 which extend from the inner housing and are welded to the walls 16, as earlier described. Near their upper ends the bars 244 are held in place by bolts 248 which extend through said bars, the flat ends of rods 210 and the walls 16 of the outer housing.

Adjacent the front open end of the receptacle 20, a plate 250 is secured. This plate lies at an angle to the floor of said receptacle and in a plane parallel to the rear face of the member 200. When the receptacle 20 is latched in position, as in FIG. 3, plate 250 will contact member 200 and aid the bottom part of the sealing strip in carrying out its function. The plate 250 may be secured in position in the receptacle in any desirable way, for example, it may be provided with a rearwardly extending 8 flange which is welded to the floor of receptacle 20, as shown in FIG. 3.

The sweeper as shown herein, is manually moved by handles on the ends of tubular rods 254 and 256. These latter, at their lower ends are pressed into such shape that the inner surface thereof is concave and fits closely adjacent the outer surface of the forwardly extending parts 253, 250 of a U-shaped tubular member having a transverse part 262. The lower ends of the parts 258 and 260 are flattened and have orifices which fit on the ends of rod 246 outside bars 244 and are held in position thereon by suitable retaining nuts.

Means are also provided to communicate suction, or vacuum, to the space between the upper walls of the inner and outer housings at a point above the rollers 174, also to the area in the outer housing adjacent the point of engagement of the flange 194 on the debris receptacle with the sealing strip 192. Such means include a rotary blower 300 which is positioned adjacent the engine, is driven thereby, and which may be of conventional construction and need not be described. This blower has a flexible intake conduit 302 extending to the right as shown in FIG. 1 and an outlet 304 of square shape. This outlet is adapted to discharge into a dust bag 306 which has a square opening therein that will fit tightly around the blower outlet, when the bag is in the position shown in FIG. 1. When in use, the dust bag is supported on top of the receptacle 20 and may be entirely disconnected from the blower outlet in order to dump its contents.

The intake conduit 302 communicates with opening 308 in the wall 18 of the outer housing and the latter has an upwardly extending flange 310 surrounding such opening. The lower end of the conduit 302 fits tightly around this flange and the opening connects with a passage 312 between the ports 18 and 314 which leads to the space above the rollers 174 at its forward end. The passage is formed in a sheet metal member 314 having upwardly extending edges 316 from which horizontal flanges 318 project outwardly and are welded to the underside of the wall 18, the member 314 being positioned substantially midway between the sides of the sweeper.

The rear ends of the side walls 24 of the inner housing are in contact with and welded to the corresponding walls of the outer housing but forwardly of the point of attachment are spaced from the outer housing to form spaces A, previously described. The wall 22 is also spaced from the wall 18 as indicated in FIG. 3. As also indicated in FIG. 3, the passage 312 is in communication with the space between Walls 22 and 18 so that suction created by the blower is communicated to such space and dust which may be present therein above the rollers 174 will be drawn off and discharged into the dust bag 306.

Similarly, since the rear end of passage 312 communicates with the rear end of the outer housing adjacent the outlet thereof, dust which may be present in this area is subject to such suction and will be drawn into the gear end of passage 312 and also discharged into the dust The blower housing is secured to the engine so as to be fixed thereto and movable therewith. The means effecting this result constitutes no part of the present invention and any suitable conventional device may be employed for this purpose. In the schematic showing in FIG. 5 there are illustrated diagrammatically a plurality of connecting rods 320 secured at their opposite ends to the engine and blower respectively, but this is merely an example and other suitable means could be used.

The blower shaft 322 is not integral with the engine shaft 40, but is in alignment therewith and is coupled thereto in driven relation therewith by any suitable coupling means. In FIG. 5 there is shown a single coupling sleeve 324 which may be bolted to 'both engine and blower shafts. This showing is, however, merely illustrative and, as already stated, any suitable conventional coupling de- 9 vice can be used to connect shaft 40 in driving relation to blower shaft 322.

While the embodiment of the present invention herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

l. A sweeper comprising, in combination, a housing adapted to be moved across the surface to be cleaned, means supporting the housing for such movement, a debris receptacle into which debris is discharged during operation of the sweeper, said housing having an open lower end and a discharge opening communicating with the debris receptacle, a rotating brush in said housing engaging the surface to be cleaned, a dust seal for preventing discharge of dust into the atmosphere during operation of the sweeper, said seal including a supple mental frame movably supported on the main housing and freely movable during operation of the sweeper, and having a pair of horizontally disposed shafts forming part of the supplemental frame and extending across the sweeper adjacent the front and rear of the open lower end of said housing, a plurality of abutting rollers rotatable on each of said shafts and adapted to engage the surface to be cleaned during operation of said sweeper, said rollers having openings therein through which the shafts extend which are larger than the diameter of the shaft so that each roller may move vertically relative to its supporting shaft.

2. A sweeper comprising, in combination, a housing adapted to be moved across the surface to be cleaned, means supporting the housing for such movement, a debris receptacle into which debris is discharged during operation of the sweeper, said housing having an open lower end and a discharge opening communicating with the debris receptacle, a rotating brush in said housing engaging the surface to be cleaned, a dust seal for pre venting discharge of dust into the atmosphere during operation of the sweeper, said seal including a supplemental frame movably supported on the main housing and freely movable during operation of the sweeper, said frame including a substantially horizontal shaft extending across said sweeper adjacent the front side of the open lower end of said housing, a plurality of abutting rollers rotatable on said shaft and adapted to engage the surface to be cleaned during operation of the sweeper, said rollers having openings therein surrounding the shaft of greater diameter than that of the shaft whereby the rollers may move up and down relative to the supporting shaft and means permitting up and down movements of the roller supporting shaft on the supplemental frame during operation of said sweeper.

3. A sweeper comprising, in combination, a housing adapted to be moved across the surface 'to be cleaned, means supporting the housing for such movement, a debris receptacle into which debris is discharged during operation of the sweeper, said housing having substantially closed upper and side walls, being open at the bottom adjacent the surface to be cleaned and having a discharge opening communicating with the debris receptacle, a rotating brush positioned in said housing so as to engage the surface to be cleaned and to sweep debris therefrom into said debris receptacle, mechanism for minimizing the discharge of dust into the atmosphere during operation of the sweeper, said mechanism comprising plates extending longitudinally of the sweeper relatively close to the side walls of the brush housing, a rod connecting said plates and positioned adjacent the front of the open bottom of said housing, a plurality of independently movable abutting rollers carried by said rod between the plates, and means for movably supporting said plates so that the latter are movable toward and away from the surface to be cleaned independently of the brush housing.

4. A sweeper comprising, in combination, a housing adapted to be moved across the surface to be cleaned,

means supporting the housing for such movement, a debris receptacle into which debris is discharged during operation of the sweeper, said housing having substantially closed upper and side walls, being open at the bottom adjacent the surface to be cleaned and having a discharge opening communicating with the debris receptacle, a rotating brush positioned in said housing so as to engage the surface to be cleaned and to sweep debris therefrom into said debris receptacle, mechanism for minimizing the discharge of dust into the atmosphere during operation of the sweeper, said mechanism comprising plates extending longitudinally of the sweeper relatively close to the side walls of the brush housing, means for movably supporting said plates so that they can move toward and away from the surface to be cleaned independently of the brush housing, a rod positioned adjacent the front of the open bottom of said brush housing and connecting said plates whereby the rod is also movable independently of the brush housing as said plates move, a plurality of independently rotatable abutting rollers supported on the rod and adapted to roll on the surface to be cleaned, said rollers having central openings through which the rod extends of larger diameter than the rod so that the rollers may move up and down independently of the rod.

5. A sweeper comprising, in combination, a housing adapted to be moved across the surface to be cleaned, means supporting the housing for such movement, a debris receptacle into which debris is discharged during operation of the sweeper, said housing having substantially closed upper and side Walls, being open at the bottom adjacent the surface to be cleaned and having a discharge opening communicating with the debris receptacle, a rotating brush positioned in said housing so as to engage the surface to be cleaned and to sweep debris therefrom into said debris receptacle, mechanism for minimizing the discharge of dust into the atmosphere during operation of the sweeper, said mechanism comprising plates extending longitudinally of the sweeper relatively close to the side walls of the brush housing, a rod connecting said plates and positioned adjacent the front of the open bottom of said housing, a plurality of independently movable abutting rollers carried by said rod between the plates, and means for movably supporting said plates so that the latter are movable toward and away from the surface to be cleaned independently of the brush housing and means connecting the rod with said plates so that the rod is movable relative thereto, and can move up and down without corresponding movement of the plates.

6. A sweeper comprising, in combination, a housing adapted to be moved across the surface to be cleaned, means supporting the housing for such movement, a debris receptacle into which debris is discharged during operation of the sweeper, said housing having substantially closed upper and side walls, being open at the bottom adjacent the surface to be cleaned and having a discharge opening communicating with the debris receptacle, a rotating brush positioned in said housing so as to engage the surface to be cleaned and to sweep debris therefrom into said debris receptacle, mechanism for minimizing the discharge of dust into the atmosphere during operation of the sweeper, said mechanism comprising plates extending longitudinally of the sweeper relatively close to the side walls of the brush housing, said plates being normally in such position that the lower edges thereof slide along the surface to be cleaned when the sweeper is in use and being movably mounted on the sweeper so that such plates can move upwardly without corresponding movement of the brush or housing, a rod positioned adjacent the front of the open bottom of the brush housing and connecting said plates so that the ends of the rod can be moved upwardly if the plates are so moved, and a plurality of independently movable abutting rollers carried by said rod and adapted to roll along the surfaces to be cleaned as the sweeper is used.

7. A sweeper comprising, in combination, a housing adapted to be moved across the surface to be cleaned, means supporting the housing for such movement, a debris receptacle intoavhich debris is discharged during operation of the sweeper, said housing having substantially closed upper and side walls, being open at the bottom adjacent the surface to be cleaned and having a discharge opening communicating with the debris recep tacle, a rotating brush positioned in said housing so as to engage the surface to be cleaned and to sweep debris therefrom into said debris receptacle, mechanism for minimizing the discharge of dust into the atmosphere during operation of the sweeper, said mechanism com prising plates extending longitudinally of the sweeper relatively close .to the side walls of the brush housing, said plates being normally in such position that the lower edges thereof slide along the surface to be cleaned when the sweeper is in use and being rnovably mounted on the sweeper so that such plates can move upwardly without corresponding movement of the brush or housing, a rod positioned adjacent the front of the open bottom of the brush housing and connecting said plates so that the ends of the rod can be moved upwardly if the plates are so moved, a plurality of independently movable abutting rollers carried by said rod and adapted to roll along the surface to be cleaned as the sweeper is used and means for so connecting the ends of the rod to said plates that the rod is freely movable with respect thereto, whereby the rod may be moved upwardly without corresponding movement of the plates.

8. A sweeper comprising, in combination, a housing adapted to be moved across the surface to be cleaned, means supporting the housing for such movement, a debris receptacle into which debris is discharged during operation of the sweeper, said housing having substantially closed upper and side walls, being open at the bottom adjacent the surface to be cleaned and having a discharge opening communicating with the debris receptacle, a rotating brush positioned in said housing so as to engage the surface to be cleaned and to sweep debris therefrom into said debris receptacle, mechanism for minimizing the discharge of dust into the atmosphere during operation of the sweeper, said mechanism comprising plates extending longitudinally of the sweeper relatively close to the side walls of the brush housing, a rod positioned adjacent the rear edge of the open bottom of said housing and connecting said plates so as to be movable therewith, means for movably supporting said plates so that they can move up and down without corresponding movement of the brush housing, and a plurality of independently movable abutting rollers carried by the rod and normally rolling on the surface to be cleaned as the sweeper is used.

9. A sweeper comprising, in combination, a housing adapted to be moved across the surface to be cleaned, means supporting the housing for such movement, a debris receptacle into which debris is discharged during operation of the sweeper, said housing having substantially closed upper and side walls, being open at the bottom adjacent the surface to be cleaned and having a discharge opening communicating with the debris receptacle, a rotating brush positioned in said housing so as to engage the surface to be cleaned and to sweep debris therefrom into said debris receptacle, mechanism for minimizing the discharge of dust into the atmosphere during operation of the sweeper, said mechanism comprising plates extending longitudinally of the sweeper relatively close to the side walls of the brush housing, a rod positioned adjacent the rear edge of the open bottom of said housing and connecting said plates so as to be movable therewith, means for movably supporting said plates so that they can move up and down without corresponding movement of the brush housing, and a plurality of independently movable abutting rollers carried by the rod and nori2 mally rolling on the surface to be cleaned as the sweeper is used, said rollers being supported on the rod so that the rollers are independently movable up and down without corresponding movement of the supporting rod.

10. A sweeper comprising, in combination, a housing adapted to be moved across the surface to be cleaned, means supporting the housing for such movement, a debris receptacle into which debris is discharged during operation of the sweeper, said housing having substantially closed upper and side walls, being open at the bottom adjacent the surface to be cleaned and having a discharge opening communicating with the debris receptacle, a rotating brush positioned in said housing so as to engage the surface to be cleaned and to sweep debris therefrom into said debris receptacle, mechanism for minimizing the discharge of dust into the atmosphere during operation of the sweeper, said mechanism comprising plates extending longitudinally of the sweeper relativey close to the side walls of the brush housing, a rod positioned adjacent the rear edge of the open bottom of .said housing and connecting said plates so as to be movable therewith, means for movably supporting said plates so that they can move up and down without corresponding movement of the brush housing, and a plurality of independently movable abutting roliers carried by the rod and normally rolling on the surface to be cleaned as the sweeper is used, said supporting rod being fixedly connected to said plates at its ends so that the ends of the rod move with said plates.

11. A sweeper comprising, in combination, a housing adapted to be moved across the surface to be cleaned, means supporting the housing for such movement, a debris receptacle into which debris is discharged during operation of the sweeper, said housing having substantially closed upper and side walls, being open at the bottom adjacent the surface to be cleaned and having a discharge opening communicating with the debris receptacle, a rotating brush positioned in said housing so as to engage the surface to be cleaned and to sweep debris therefrom into said debris receptacle, mechanism for minimizing the discharge of dust into the atmosphere during operation of the sweeper, said mechanism comprising plates extending longitudinally of the sweeper relatively close to the side walls of the brush housing, front and rear rods connecting said plates and positioned adjacent the front and rear edges of the open bottom of the brush housing, individually movable abutting rollers supported by both the front and rear rods and normally engaging the surface to be cleaned during operation of the sweeper, supporting means for side plates permitting upward and downward movement thereof, said rear rod being fixedly connected to said plates so as to be movable therewith and means movably connecting said front rod with the plates so that said rod can move up and down without corresponding movement of the plates.

12. A sweeper comprising, in combination, a housing adapted to be moved across the surface to be cleaned, means supporting the housing for such movement, a debris receptacle into which debris is discharged during operation of the sweeper, said housing having an open lower end and a discharge opening communicating with the debris receptacle, a rotating brush in said housing engaging the surface to be cleaned, an outer housing having upper and side walls relatively close to but spaced from the corresponding walls of the brush housing, mechanism for minimizing the discharge of dust into the air during operation of the sweeper, said mechanism including longitudinally disposed plates normally sliding on the surface to be cleaned during operation of the sweeper and positioned in the spaces between the side Walls of the two housings, studs on the end walls of the outer housing and extending into openings formed in said plates of such size as to permit up and down movement of the plates relative to said housings, transverse rods con meeting said plates and positioned adjacent the front and rear of the open bottom of the brush housing, said rods 13 having a plurality of abutting and individually movable rollers supported thereon, said rollers normally engaging the surface to be cleaned as the sweeper is used.

13. A sweeper comprising, in combination, a housing adapted to be moved across the surface to be cleaned, means supporting the housing for such movement, a debris receptacle into which debris is discharged during operation ofthe sweeper, said housing having an open lower end and a discharge opening communicating with the debris receptacle, a rotating brush in said housing engaging the surface to be cleaned, an outer housing having upper and side walls relatively close to but spaced from the corresponding walls of the brush housing, mechanism for minimizing the discharge of dust into the air during operation of the sweeper, said mechanism including longitudinally disposed plates normally sliding on the surface to be cleaned during operation of the sweeper and positioned in the spaces between the side walls of the two housings, studs on the end walls of the outer housing and extending into openings formed in said plates of such size as to permit up and down movement of the plates relative to said housings, a transverse rod connecting said plates and positioned adjacent the front of the open bottom of the brush housing, said rod having a plurality of abutting rollers supported thereon and normally adapted to engage the surface to be cleaned as the sweeper is used, and means enabling said rollers to move up and down individually independent of the rod.

14. A sweeper comprising, in combination, a housing adapted to be moved across the surface to be cleaned, means supporting the housing for such movement, a debris receptacle into which debris is discharged during operation of the sweeper, said housing having an open lower end and a discharge opening communicating with the debris receptacle, a rotating brush in said housing engaging the surface to be cleaned, an outer housing having upper and side walls relatively close to but spaced from the corresponding walls of the brush housing, mechanism for minimizing the discharge of dust into the air during operation of the sweeper, said mechanism including longitudinally disposed plates normally sliding on the surface to be cleaned during operation of the sweeper and positioned in the spaces between the side walls of the two housings, studs on the end walls of the outer housing and extending into openings formed in said plates of such size as to permit up and down movement of the plates relative to said housings, a transverse rod connecting said plates and positioned adjacent the front of the open bottom of the brush housing, said rod having a plurality of abutting rollers supported thereon and normally adapted to engage the surface to be cleaned as the sweeper is used, means enabling said rollers to move up and down individually independent of the rod and said plates having openings therein through which the rod extends of such size as to permit up and down movement of the rod without movement of the plates.

15. A sweeper comprising, in combination, a housing adapted to be moved across the surface to be cleaned, means supporting the housing for such movement, a debris receptacle into which debris is discharged during operation of the sweeper, said housing having an open lower end and a discharge opening communicating with the debris receptacle, a rotating brush in said housing engaging the surface to be cleaned, an outer housing having upper and side walls relatively close to but spaced from the corresponding walls of the brush housing, mechanism for minimizing the discharge of dust into the air during operation of the sweeper, a transverse rod positioned in the space between said housings adjacent the front ofthe open bottom of the inner housing, said rod having abutting and independently movable rollers supported thereon which are adapted to engage the surface to be cleaned during operation of the sweeper, a suction producing means supported on the sweeper and a conduit communicating the suction produced thereby to the space between the housing relatively close to and above said rollers.

16. A sweeper comprising, in combination, a housing adapted to be moved across the surface to be cleaned, means supporting the housing for such movement, a debris receptacle into which debris is discharged during operation of the sweeper, said housing having an open lower end and a discharge opening communicating with the debris receptacle, a rotating brush in said housing engaging the surface to be cleaned, a dust seal for preventing discharge of dust into the atmosphere during operation of the sweeper, said seal including a pair of horizontally disposed shafts extending across the sweeper adjacent the front and rear of the open lower end of said housing, a plurality of abutting rollers rotatable on each of said shafts and adapted to engage the surface to be cleaned during operation of said sweeper, an outer housing having upper and side walls relatively close to but spaced from the corresponding walls of the brush housing, said outer housing being adapted to extend into said debris receptacle when the sweeper is assembled, a sealing means comprising a sealing strip surrounding the outer housing adjacent said receptacle, a flange on said receptacle, means holding said flange in engagement with said strip when the receptacle is in operative position, a suction producing means supported on the sweeper and a conduit communicating the suction to the area within the outer housing adjacent said sealing means.

17. A sweeper comprising, in combination, .a housing adapted to be moved across the surface to be cleaned adjacent to but spaced from said surface, means supporting the housing for such movement, a debris receptacle into which debris is discharged during operation of the sweeper, said housing having substantially closed upper and side walls, being open at the bottom adjacent the surface to be cleaned and having a discharge opening communicating with the debris receptacle, a rotating brush positioned in said housing so as to engage the surface to be cleaned and to sweep debris therefrom into said debris receptacle, mechanism for minimizing the discharge of dust into the atmosphere during operation of the sweeper, said mechanism comprising plates extending longitudinally of the sweeper relatively close to the side walls of the brush housing and freely movable vertically wit-h respect to said housing during operation of the sweeper, said plates being so positioned relative to the housing that they may slide along the surface to be cleaned as the sweeper is operated so as to prevent discharge of dust through the space be tween the housing and the surface to be cleaned, a rod extending transversely of said sweeper adjacent the front of the open bottom of said housing and adjacent the front end of said plates, a plurality of independently movable abutting rollers supported on said rod and normally engaging the surface to be cleaned as the sweeper is operated, a suction producing means supported on the sweeper and a conduit for communicating the suction produced thereby to the area adjacent the aforesaid abutting rollers.

18. A sweeper comprising, in combination, a housing adapted to be moved across the surface to be cleaned, means supporting the housing for such movement, a debris receptacle into which debris is discharged during operation of the sweeper, said housing having an open lower end and a discharge opening communicating with the debris receptacle, a rotating brush in said housing engaging the surface to be cleaned, a dust seal for preventing discharge of dust into the atmosphere during operation of the sweeper, said seal including a supplemental frame movably supported on the main housing and freely movable during operation of the sweeper, and having a pair of horizontally disposed shafts forming part of the supplemental frame and extending across the sweeper adjacent the front and rear of the open lower end of said housing, a plurality of abutting rollers rotatable on each of said shafts and adapted to engage the surface to be cleaned during operation of said sweeper, said rollers having openings therein through which the shafts extend which are larger than the diameter of the shaft so that each roller may move vertically relative to its supporting shaft, and a sheet of flexible maerial extending transversely across the brush housing and secured thereto below the discharge opening, said sheet of material being positioned closely adjacent the rollers 011 the rear shaft and extending downwardly to .a point near the surface to be cleaned.

19. A sweeper comprising, in combination, a housing adapted to be moved across the surface to be cleaned, means for supporting the housing for such movement, a debris receptacle into which debris is discharged during operation of the sweeper, said housing having an open lower end and a discharge opening communicating with the debris receptacle, a rotating brush in said housing engaging the surface to be cleaned, a dust seal for preventing discharge of dust into the atmosphere during operation of the sweeper, said seal including a supplemental frame movably supported on the main housing and freely movable during operation of the sweeper and having a pair of horizontally disposed shafts forming part of the supplemental frame and extending across the sweeper adjacent the front and rear of the open lower end of said housing, and a plurality of independently mounted sealing members in side by side sealing relationship with each other, said members being rotatably mounted on said supporting shafts and fitting loosely enough thereon to be freely movable vertically when passing over particles of debris.

20. A sweeper comprising, in combination, a housing adapted to be moved across the surface to be cleaned, means for supporting the housing for such movement, a

debris receptacle into which debris is discharged during operation of the sweeper, said housing having an open lower end and a discharge opening communicating with the debris receptacle, a rotating brush in said housing engaging the surface to be cleaned, a dust seal for preventing discharge of dust into the atmosphere during operation of the sweeper, said seal including a supplemental frame movably supported on the main housing and freely movable during operation of the sweeper, said frame including a substantially horizontal shaft extending across said sweeper adjacent the front side of the open lower end of said housing, and a plurality of independently mounted sealing members in side by side sealing relationship with each other, said members being rotatably mounted on said supporting shaft and fitting loosely enough thereon to be freely movable vertically when passing over particles of debris.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,229,737 6/17 Furnas 15-340 X 1,745,355 2/30 Cooper 15415 X 2,300,280 10/42 Teager.

2,678,462 5/54 Lison et al. 15-340 X 2,689,367 9/54 Parker 15-83 X 2,739,340 3/56 Blydenburgh et al. 15-340 X 3,061,857 11/62 Garms 15-49 X WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Examiner. 

20. A SWEEPER COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A HOUSING ADAPTED TO BE MOVED ACROSS THE SURFACE TO BE CLEANED, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE HOUSING FOR SUCH MOVEMENT, A DEBRIS RECEPTACLE INTO WHICH DEBRIS IS DISCHARGED DURING OPERATION OF THE SWEEPER, SAID HOUSING HAVING AN OPEN LOWER END AND A DISCHARGE OPENING COMMUNICATING WITH THE DEBRIS RECEPTACLE, A ROTATING BRUSH IN SAID HOUSING ENGAGING THE SURFACE TO BE CLEANED, A DUST SEAL FOR PREVENTING DISCHARGE OF DUST INTO THE ATMOSPHERE DURING OPERATION OF THE SWEEPER, SAID SEAL INCLUDING A SUPPLEMENTAL FRAME MOVABLE SUPPORTED ON THE MAIN HOUSING AND FREELY MOVABLE DURING OPERATION OF THE SWEEPER, SAID FRAME INCLUDING A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL SHAFT EXTENDING ACROSS SAID SWEEPER ADJACENT THE FRONT SIDE OF THE OPEN LOWER END OF SAID HOUSING, AND A PLURALITY OF INDEPENDENTLY MOUNTED SEALING MEMBERS IN SIDE BY SIDE SEALING RELATIONSHIP WITH EACH OTHER, SAID MEMBERS BEING ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORTING SHAFT AND FITTING LOOSELY ENOUGH THEREON TO BE FREELY MOVABLE VERTICALLYI WHEN PASSING OVER PARTICLES OF DEBRIS. 